[sdiy] Health Hazard from Solder Fumes

[Tony Clark]

> << http://www.bbc-safety.co.uk/HSE/solderfume&you.htm >>
> 
> is  there rosin /lead free solder that we can use?  what are the draw backs?

   You can get all kinds of lead-free solder with different kinds of flux 
(both water soluable and "no-clean").  These exist to suppliment rework 
stations for assembly lines that already use these kinds of materials in 
their SMT assembly.  You'll have to hunt to find them.
   The draw back for most lead-frees are that typically 90% of them have 
been patented and are expensive.  There are currently some royalty-free 
lead-frees that are being adapted as industry standards and will be the 
most commonly available variety in the near future.  The only difference 
between the patented ones and the non-patented ones are just the ratios 
of elements in the material.  Pretty silly, really.
   Anyway, ALL lead-frees have a higher melting point.  And they are more 
brittle, but the latest materials are getting extremely close to behaving 
like good ole Tin-Lead solder.  Another problem is that many components 
and PCB boards are coated in Tin or Tin/Lead combinations.  This can 
cause adhesion problems with lead-frees which tend to bond better to bare 
copper.  And then you have the whole issue of dealing with copper 
oxidation, which is why you'll most likely need a more aggressive flux in 
your lead-free solder.  So I would recommend anyone trying lead-free to 
use a water-soluable organic-based flux, which is more aggressive, BUT 
needs to be washed off after use!
   And yes, the electronics industry is slated to go completely lead-free 
in the very near future.  Europe is already leading the US in this, but 
that's only because they have a closer deadline than the US does.  The 
whole ban on Lead in the electronic industry is a farce, really, since 
the electronics industry (worldwide) accounts for less than 10% of total 
lead usage.  Guess where the other 90% is?!  Car batteries.  Yes.  Have 
you heard of legislation to move car batteries to lead-free?  NOPE.
   Anyhoo, be aware that you'll probably have to stock up on leaded 
solder sometime in the near future, OR start experimenting now so that 
you'll know what you're in for when it does change.

   Hope you found this stuff interesting.  :)

   Tony

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  The E-Music DIY Archive - http://aupe.phys.andrews.edu/diy_archive
-----------------------------------------------------------------------